Router User Interface

The Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) is the kernel of Cisco's Routers and most of their switches.

Cisco IOS software is used to :

Carry network protocols and functions

Connect high speed traffic between devices

Add security, control access, and stop unauthorized network access

Promote Scalability for ease of network growth and redundancy

Supply network reliability for connecting to network resources

The IOS can be accessed through the console port, from a modem (auxiliary port), or through the network via telnet. Access to the IOS command line is called an EXEC session.

Console Port

Connect using a RJ-45 port on the back of the router.

Cable is wired straight through but reversed on one side (rolled cable).

Console
(DTE)

Console Port

Console Cable

Rollover Cable

Signal

RJ-45 Pin

RJ-45 Pin

RTS

1

8

DTR

2

7

TXD

3

6

GND

4

5

GND

5

4

RXD

6

3

DSR

7

2

CTS

8

1

Cable connects to RJ-45 to DB9 adapter and the PC uses a Terminal Emulation program set to 9600 baud, 8 bits, N parity, 1 stop bit.

Console port has no password by default.

Auxiliary Port

Same as console port and can be used in same way.

Typically used by having a modem you can use to dial into the router with.

Useful for configuring a remote router you don't have physical access to.

If a remote route stops responding, it can still be accessed if it has a modem on its auxiliary port.

Telnet

Telephone Network - it emulates a dumb terminal and connects over the network.

Can connect from PCs or other routers.

When logging on to the router, be aware that telnet sends and receives passwords and usernames in plain text.

Powering up a Cisco Router

First runs POST (Power On Self Test).

If POST passes, it loads the IOS from flash memory if present (Flash Memory is EEPROM).

IOS will then load the configuration file called startup-configuration, stored in NVRAM by default.

If no configuration file is present, the router will bring up setup mode (a step-by-step process to help you configure a router, it can be run any time by entering setup at the global
configuration command line prompt).

SETUP Mode

Only gives you enough configurations to allow connectivity to the router.

Configures only enough connectivity for management of the system.

Extended Setup

Allows you to configure some global parameters as well as interface configuration parameters.

Prompts you to configure each interface on the system.

Prompts for

Hostname

Secret Password

Enable Password

VTY Password (used for Telnet Sessions)

SNMP setup

Protocols {DECnet, AppleTalk, IP(IP routing -RIP, IGRP, etc)}

Bridging

IPX protocol

Async Lines

If ISDN BRI interface is present, it prompts for switch type.

Next configures Interfaces, including IP address and network mask.

The running-config is shown after the interfaces are configured.

The last option in setup is a menu of three choices.

Discard Configuration and go to command line.

To start setup mode over.

To save setup to NVRAM to be used at boot up (startup -config).

Command Line Interface

If you choose to skip setup mode, you will be taken to the command line and the status of all the interfaces will be shown to the screen.

Logging in to the Router

Depending on the port you're using, you might have to press enter to get the prompt to appear (console port). The first prompt will look like Routername> the greater than sign at
the prompt tells you that you are in user mode. In user mode you can only view limited statistics of the router. To change configurations you first need to enter
privileged EXEC mode. This is done by typing enable at the Routername> prompt, the prompt then changes to Routername#. This mode supports testing
commands, debugging commands, and commands to manage the router configuration files. To go back to user mode type disable at the Routername# prompt. If you want to leave
completely, type logout at the user mode prompt. You can also exit from the router while in privileged mode by typing exit or logout at the Routername#
prompt.

Global Configuration Mode

Enter this mode from the privileged mode by typing configure terminal or conf t for short, the prompt will change to Routername(config)#. Changes made in this mode
change the running-config file in DRAM. Use configure memory to change the startup-config in NVRAM. Using configure network allows you to change the configuration file
on a TFTP server. If you change the memory or network config files, the router has to put them into memory (DRAM) in order to work with them, so this will change your router's current
running-config file.

Interfaces

While in global configuration mode you can enter interface configuration mode and make changes to individual interfaces with the command Router(config)#interface ethernet 0 or
Router(config)#int e0 for short, this enters into the interface configuration mode for Ethernet port 0 and changes the prompt to look likeRouter(config-if)#.

Subinterfaces

In global configuration mode you can create virtual interfaces, so at the prompt Routername(config)# type int e0.1 and the prompt will change to
Routername(config-subif)#. For all practical purposes there isn't a limit to the amount of subinterfaces an interface can have.

Lines

In global configuration mode you can enter line [aux, vty, console] to enter commands for the line type. Changes the prompt to Routername(config-line)#. In line mode you can set
passwords, inactivity timeout times, and number of available lines (vty).

Routing Protocols

In global configuration mode enter router followed by one of the following protocols: